John Kerry begins Mid East tour with stop in Egypt

US Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived on an unannounced visit to Egypt as he begins a tour of countries in the region.

Mr Kerry, the most senior American official to visit Egypt since the ousting of President Mohammed Morsi in July, will stay only a few hours.

The visit comes at a time of tension between Washington and Cairo. Mr Morsi is due to go on trial on Monday.

Mr Kerry will go on to tour countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

John Kerry's visit to Cairo was kept under wraps by US officials until he landed - although Egyptian state media did announce his arrival - the first time a US secretary of State has travelled to Egypt on what is known as an unannounced visit for security reasons.

The BBC's Kim Ghattas, travelling with Mr Kerry, says it is the kind of precaution that characterises trips by US officials to countries like Afghanistan and Iraq.

This is a sign of US concerns about continued instability in the country, but it is also a reaction to the high level of anti-American resentment in Egypt, our correspondent says.

Although Washington has not declared the military takeover that deposed the Islamist Mr Morsi a coup, it has de facto suspended military aid to Egypt in compliance with US law.

This has angered supporters of the army, while supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood also feel bitter and accuse the US of letting them down.

Mr Kerry's visit comes a day before the trial of Mr Morsi who is accused of inciting the killing of protesters outside the presidential palace in December 2012.

But the State Department said the timing of Mr Kerry's visit was not connected to the trial, our correspondent adds.